Article of footwear having a chain-linked tensile support structure

Abstract

Articles of footwear having an upper that includes a tensile support structure are described. The tensile support structure is formed by a plurality of strands that are arranged in a chain-linked configuration. The chain-linked arrangement of the strands assists with distributing tensile forces over portions of the upper of the article of footwear and helps to conforms the upper to a foot of a wearer upon the application of tension.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
 a base layer having an interior surface and an opposite exterior surface, the base layer forming at least a portion of the upper of the article of footwear and having a plurality of lace-receiving openings; and 
 a tensile support structure disposed proximate to the exterior surface of the base layer, the tensile support structure comprising a plurality of strands that are interlinked to distribute tensile forces across the base layer, the plurality of strands comprising a first strand and a second strand; 
 wherein the first strand and second strand each extends along a medial or lateral side of the upper from the sole structure to a lace region of the upper, 
 wherein each of the first and second strands comprises an ascending portion and a descending portion, and the respective ascending portion and descending portion of the first strand are self-linked at a single location between the sole structure and the lace region, and the respective ascending portion and descending portion of the second strand are self-linked at another single location between the sole structure and the lace region, 
 wherein the first and second strands are adjacent-linked to each other at an area that is spaced apart from the single locations where the respective first and second strands are self-linked, 
 wherein the ascending portion extends from a lower region of the upper to the lace region, the descending portion extends from the lacing region to the lower region of the upper, and the respective strand extends around a respective one of the lace-receiving openings, and 
 wherein the first and second strands define one or more diamond-shape portions between the areas where the strands are adjacent-linked and self-linked. 
 
     
     
       2. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of strands is secured between the upper and the sole structure at the lower region of the upper. 
     
     
       3. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lace that extends through the plurality of lace-receiving openings. 
     
     
       4. The article of footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein the lace extends through at least a first lace loop formed by the first strand of the plurality of strands and a second lace loop formed by the second strand of the plurality of strands. 
     
     
       5. The article of footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein the first lace loop is disposed proximate a forefoot region of the article of footwear and the second lace loop is disposed nearer to a heel region of the article of footwear than the first lace loop. 
     
     
       6. The article of footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein a tensile force applied to the first lace loop of the first strand is transmitted through the tensile support structure to the second strand such that an opposing tensile force is applied at the second lace loop. 
     
     
       7. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cover layer disposed over at least a portion of the exterior surface of the base layer, the cover layer forming at least a portion of an exterior of the upper of the article of footwear. 
     
     
       8. The article of footwear according to  claim 7 , wherein at least a first portion of the plurality of strands are disposed between the exterior surface of the base layer and an inside surface of the cover layer and at least a second portion of the plurality of strands are exposed at the exterior of the upper. 
     
     
       9. The article of footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the cover layer further comprises one or more openings that extend through the cover layer; and
 wherein at least one of the first portion of the plurality of strands and the second portion of the plurality of strands extend through the one or more openings. 
 
     
     
       10. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the base layer comprises a knitted component. 
     
     
       11. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first and second strands are adjacent-linked to each other at two different locations. 
 
     
     
       12. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of strands are unsecured to the base layer between the lower region of the upper and the lace region.